Discussion

Looking to buy Tuscany's Puci Noodles in Houston

Just back from a terrific visit of Siena Itally and surrounding hilltop towns. Large round spaggetti noodles are on every menu,, typically served with wild boar as the "meat sauce",, these large noodles add texture and fullness to each serving but I didn't chance trying to bring them back.. Wondering if anyone knows where they might be found retail?? Just did a pit stop at Central Market but no luck.. Thinking I might need to locate a retailer/distributor/importer of Italian food products. Thoughts?

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll see if CM/Houston would be interested in running it down tho I'm not optimistic.. The Pici "fat noodles" seem to be a hard find after searching the net briefly yesterday... Next time I go back, I'll bring an empty suitcase!

I have this cookbook called the Pasta Bible, so I looked these noodles up. They are called either pinci, pici, or perciatelli. Nundini sells the last named one. Just to double check I goggled it and found this blog that mentions the guy trying to find them stateside. read to the last paragraph.

Hi Dani,, I ck'd out Nunini's yesterday,, they do have a nice selection of pastas you won't find at your typical retailer but no perciatelli/pici... I'm going to try the website "trip advisor" and focus on a Siena page to see if I can find an exporter or someone who paid a visit to Chianti/Tuscany that might ID a US distributor.. Best, Jack

Go back to the home page of Nundini and click on online shopping/pastas - they do have it there. They must have just been looking at what was in the store. I wouldn't have told you they had it if it weren't true! C'mon, I'm better than that! LOL!

Hi Dani,, I went into the store,, scanned the shelves without luck then brought over a store employee to help me search without luck.. They did stock the fattest Ziti I've seen in my life but no Pici or perciatelli.. I did have some luck finding a store in the Bay Area. "Its on the water" they told me,,,, apparantely on a slow boat from Naples,, like my grandparents! Jack

I just ordered a case of pici from Nundini. I looked everywhere for this pasta when I returned from Tuscany last fall and couldn't find them. Thanks Danhole. I'll report when I get the pici and cook a pot full with some porcinis. That will remind me of the dinners I had in Siena, Pienza and one we cooked at the farmhouse we rented in Montici. Great meals and a terrific trip.

Amazinc,, pls let us know when you receive... The pics left me a little confused as the packaging and apperance of the pasta did not match my weeks old image,, having just returned from the Siena area... By the way,, did u have the white belt,, Sienese ham when you were there??

Bornie, not I didn't have the ham you mentioned (white belt?, didn't see it) but we did have the roast boar at the main farmers' market in Florence. Chiani? or something close. The stall had a whole roasted boar on the counter and they sliced off pieces, put them on the most fabulous bread, slapped the sandwich on a parchment square and handed it to you. Then you found a seat at one of the communal tables where everyone was downing his treat with red wine...laughing and talking. One of our most memorable meals.